The lore and creativity of the communal writing project revolving around the SCP Foundation is something that anyone can begin reading and never find their way out of – with thousands of creative “SCPs”, a cornucopia of novels, and a variety of other multimedia projects either directly set in the SCP Universe or using it as inspiration (Such as Remedy Entertainment’s fabulous game, Control). The latest game to be based in the SCP universe is Go Home Annie, a psychological horror/puzzle adventure game developed by Misfit Village and published by Nordcurrent Labs. Does this latest project do more than a decade of lore-building justice, or does it fall flat? Read on to find out.
Go Home Annie plunges you into the life of Annie, a low-level test subject in the SCP Foundation’s Replication Division. The story kicks off with a nightmarish house that seems intimately tied to Annie’s past, but this single anomaly is just the tip of a much larger iceberg. As you navigate cramped corridors and desolate landscapes, you uncover research logs and secret files that reveal the Replication Division’s questionable experiments—and much more.
Unlike many SCP-themed games that rely heavily on extreme jump scares, Go Home Annie leans firmly into psychological tension. You’ll spend more time feeling unsettled by Annie’s unravelling memories than dodging terrifying creatures lurking around every corner. The story shines brightest when introducing fresh anomalies—some deeply unnerving, others bringing an unexpected dash of humour—showcasing the Replication Division’s shadowy experiments. However, the mid-game can drag, slowing the sense of intrigue that made the opening so compelling. While Annie’s personal journey remains engaging, the supporting cast doesn’t always get enough time in the spotlight, leaving you wishing for more character depth. Still, even with these hiccups, Go Home Annie successfully delivers an eerie, dread-filled atmosphere that perfectly aligns with the psychological horror genre. With a playtime of approximately five hours, the game offers just enough content to feel satisfying without becoming overwhelming or underwhelming.
Go Home Annie strikes a compelling balance between its puzzle-centric design and the uneasy atmosphere it creates, drawing players in with strikingly lit hallways, eerie waterlogged spaces, and subtle environmental details that invite thorough exploration. A distinct sense of dread permeates each location, further amplified by a moody soundtrack that heightens the overall tension. While the game excels in lighting and texture work—particularly in its surreal landscapes—character models can sometimes appear unfinished, and scattered design elements occasionally feel jarring.
The gameplay in Go Home Annie revolves around intuitive puzzle-solving and methodical exploration, which gives it a distinctly slower, more thoughtful pace than many horror titles. You’ll frequently rely on your camcorder to glimpse hidden clues or anomalies, effectively blending the puzzle mechanics with the game’s unsettling atmosphere. Not every challenge is particularly tough – the game offers fairly direct guidance, which might disappoint those who prefer deciphering cryptic clues without assistance – but in return, is good for those who love that extra layer of support. Even so, the variety of puzzles, including some stealth-based segments and mild platforming, keeps the gameplay loop feeling fresh.
However, not all mechanics feel as fleshed out. The driving section, for example, can feel a bit clunky and drawn out, breaking the tension the game so carefully cultivates. Some mechanics, like stealth, appear briefly and then fade away, suggesting ideas that never fully get the spotlight. Despite these hiccups, the overall puzzle-driven approach suits the psychological horror theme, rewarding patience and observation over frantic action. The result is a focused, story-centred gameplay experience that many players will find refreshing, even if a few segments could have benefited from additional polish.
Ultimately, Go Home Annie delivers a memorable journey through twisted corridors and half-buried memories, even if certain aspects of its design may not appeal to everyone. Its measured pace and puzzle-driven gameplay offer a refreshing contrast to more frantic, questionably “scarier” horror titles, while the SCP-inspired narrative keeps the intrigue simmering. Though some mechanics and character arcs could benefit from deeper development, the game’s immersive atmosphere and steady tension are more than enough to keep you engaged until the final revelations unfold.
A digital Steam review code was provided for Go Home Annie for the purpose of this review.
Go Home Annie is now available on the PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG.
